Durango Wheel Club

From Bicycle Colorado:

Bicycle Safety Bill: Still Time To Call
Next Vote May Happen on Thursday or Friday
Senate Bill 148 for Bicycle Safety needs a final push from bicyclists statewide.

Thanks to everyone who called their Representative last week, we still have a chance to pass the House. Now opponents to bike safety are planning a slew of bad amendments in an attempt to kill or weaken the bill. Our bill is scheduled behind a number of others, so the delay is allowing the opposition to come up with more ways to negatively affect it. We need to finish strong and keep making calls.

If you haven’t called your Representative yet, please do so today — the first of two votes in the Colorado House may happen this Thursday or Friday (March 26 or 27). If you already have called, THANK YOU! Please extend your influence by asking a friend or neighbor to call too.

From Jeff Hammett’s Beer N Bikes site:

If you live in the Durango area (anywhere highlighted on this map), your Representative is Ellen Roberts. You can call her Denver office at (303) 866-2914 or email her (but a phone call is always better!) at: ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us

SC

This Sunday 3/29/09 FLC is holding a practice road race that is open to the public.

Start: 9 a.m. @ Bread
Course: Up Edgemont to Lemon Reservoir (KOM and Regroup) Continue to Vaellcito Dam (KOM and Regroup).
Men B & C, Women A&B Return to top of Edgemont (Finish Sprint Top of Edgemont).
Route Map: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/co/durango/751123790843676254
Men’s A continue down CR 501 to CR502 up through Texas Creek (Dirt Road section back to CR 234 , Neutral down Edgemont past Bread. Finish is at the top of Shalona off CR 250 in the valley.
Route Map: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/durango/877123790982664818

Contact: Matt Shriver

FLC Cycling Men’s Head Coach
www.cycling.fortlewis.edu
(970)-946-5570
shriver_m@fortlewis.edu

SC

Part of being a member of the DWC is volunteering some of your time each year. We could not function without your help. Please sign up for at least one of the following events!

Job: Follow car/Motorcycle for Saturday Group rides.

Who: 1-2 people with cars/motorcycles.

When: Every Saturday from March through August. Total time is 3-4 hours.

What: Good drivers who are familiar with how group rides function to follow the group rides on Saturday. Your car will have a sign on the back to alert motorists that cyclists are on the road.

Additional Compensation: $15 for gas, coffee and a snack.

Job: FLC/DWC Squawker Classic Omnium course marshals and registration.

When: April 11 & 12, 2009

Who: 35+ volunteers!!!

What: registration for the TT, Marshaling for the crit and road-race.

TT Registration: 4/11/09, 7:30 am to 9:30 am, 2 people.

Criterium: 4/11/09, 3 pm to 6 pm, 10 people.

Road Race: 4/12/09, 11:30 am to 4 pm, 22 people.

Job: Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Criterium

When: May 24th

Who: 50 volunteers!!!

What: set-up and marshaling the IHBC downtown criterium.

Set-up: 5 am to 7:30 am. 10 people needed.

Morning: 6:45 am to 10:30 am. 15 people.

Midday: 10:15 am to 2:15 pm. 15 people.

Afternoon: 2 pm to 6 pm. 15 people.

All volunteers will receive a volunteer schwag-bag and be enrolled in the end of the season raffle for each shift that they complete!

Contact Spencer to sign-up: durangowheelclub@gmail.com

The Trading Post is now a permanent ‘Page’ located at the top of this site. Look above the DWC Logo and picture to find it. -SC

In Friday’s Durango Herald article I was quoted as saying that group rides going out during rush hour were bandit rides. In hindsight, I feel that I have used an inappropriate term to describe what I meant. My intention was to say that large group rides going out at rush hour were not being held or organized by the Durango Wheel Club. I certainly did not mean to imply that people can’t ride wherever and whenever they want, or that non-DWC group rides are bad or wrong. I know that for many, rush hour is the only time of day that is possible to ride: I understand and respect that fact. I believe that we should be able to cycle when and where we want as individuals or in groups. I strongly believe that cyclist have the right to share the roads with others and I hope that all cyclists take it upon themselves to do so in a safe and legal manner.

Sincerely,

Spencer

durangowheelclub@gmail.com

Colorado Bicycle Safety Bill is in Danger!
Senate Bill 148 will not pass the Colorado State House without your help. The final votes in the Colorado House could happen as soon as Friday, March 20!

The bill narrowly passed the House Transportation Committee late Tuesday night after drawn-out testimony from opponents.

Please call your Representative TODAY (details follow for finding their name and number).
If you make one call this year to help bicycling, now is the time.
ACTION NEEDED- Here is how to help:

1. Find your STATE House Representative and their contact info with the “Search by Zip Code” function at this website You will need your nine-digit zip code, find it at this website

2. Call (leave a voice mail) or email asking your STATE House Representative to:

Please support Senate Bill 148 for Bicycle Safety
-Keep the 3 feet passing distance
-Allow bicyclists to ride where it is safe
-Briefly tell why bicycle safety is important to you

(do not call U.S. Representatives Coffman, DeGette, Lamborn, Markey, Perlmutter, Polis, or Salazar.)

If anyone reading was riding the Road Apple trails on Sunday, March 8th, and witnessed the illegal ATV race that destroyed a section of West Road Apple, please send Rich Simmons of the BLM a statement. Rich is pursuing action against these violators. We need your help! Save the Road Apple! Call me if you need more info: 505-860-5524. Richard_simmons@nm.blm.gov.

Also, in the future, call in ATV abuse of the RAR trails. ATVs are not allowed on the RAR course and other singletrack trails attached therein. Call the San Juan Sherriffs Dept: 911 and ask for Sherriffs Dept non-emergency. Take your Cell, take a small camera, and take pictures! Thanks for your help.
Keith Ashmore, President, Velo De Animas, DWC member
SC

The departure time for ALL Saturday DWC group rides has been changed to 11 am!

PLEASE NOTE: For safety and legal concerns, group rides are open to 2009 DWC members who have signed our Letter of Understanding and Group Riding Etiquette Guidelines. All members are reminded that we are riding on ‘open’ roads and you must obey traffic laws at all times. Annual membership forms and one day guest memberships will be available at the start. One day guest memberships cost $3 and are limited to one per person each year.

RIDE SCHEDULE FOR MARCH AND APRIL: (updated 3/16/2009)

The first group rolls out at 11 am!

3/21/09: Breen loop
Start: Durango Tech Center. Route: US 160W to CO 140 to CR 141, finish at Welcome to Durango sign on US160. The climb on US 550 will break up the groups before turning onto CO 140. Notes: This ride will be especially good on Saturday morning because there is considerably less truck traffic on CO 140.

3/28/09: Haviland Lake
Start: Durango Community Recreation Center. Route: US 550N to Haviland lake, turn-around, head back to town. Finish at Welcome to Durango Sign on US 550. Notes: This is a good ride for large groups because we have a wide shoulder the entire way.

4/4/09: Vallecito Reservoir
Start: Durango Sports Club. Route: CR 240 to CR 501 to Vallecito Dam, turn around. Finish at Edgemont Highlands ‘Big Pinecone’ entrance.

4/11/09: FLC/DWC Squawker Classic/TT & Criterium. NO GROUP RIDE! WE NEED HELP WITH VOLUNTEERS!!! Contact Spencer to sign-up!

4/12/09: FLC/DWC Squawker Classic/Road Race. WE NEED HELP WITH VOLUNTEERS!!!

4/18/09: Mancos
Start: Durango Tech Center. Route: US 160W to Mancos, turn around. Finish at Welcome to Durango sign on US 160. Notes: This is another good ride for large groups because we have a wide shoulder.

4/25/09: Durango Mountain Resort

Start: Durango Community Recreation Center. Route: US 550N to Needles, turn-around, head back to town. Finish at Welcome to Durango Sign on US 550.

NOTES:We will cancel rides due to snow and ice for safety reasons. Check the website Saturday morning for cancellations.

Members will be split into groups according to ability and group size, with a maximum of 25 riders per group. Groups of 5 or less will be merged. Groups will go off at 5 minute intervals, with the fastest group going first to avoid groups from merging. Group one will start at 10 am sharp!

Group one: Pace: race (25+ on flats). Who: ‘A’ level riders; Pros, cat 1-3 racers, very strong club riders, strong collegiate racers.

Group two: Pace: fast (20-25 on flats). Who: ‘B+’ and ‘B’ riders. cat 3-5 racers, strong club riders, collegiate racers.

Group three: Pace: medium-fast (17-22 on flats). Who: ‘B’ and strong ‘C’ riders.

Group four: Pace: medium-slow (14-19 on flats). Who: ‘C’ riders.

Group five; Pace: chit-chat-slow. Who: folks who want a very easy social spin!

The follow car will follow the last group on the road that contains 10 or more cyclists.

See you on Saturday!

Spencer

durangowheelclub@gmail.com

The FLC TT practices will run every Wednesday through April 15th.

If there is moisture the TT will be cancelled.

3/4/09 Dead Squirrel 4pm
3/11/09 Dead Squirrel 4pm
3/18/09 Dead Squirrel 4pm
3/25/09 Dead Elk 5pm
4/1/09 Dead Elk 5pm
4/8/09 Dead Elk 5pm
4/15/09 Dead Elk 5pm

TT course descriptions:

The infamous Dead Squirrel TT starts at the corner of HWY 550N and CR 203 (Sweeneys). It is a 9.3 mile (15K) loop that goes north on 203, right on Trimble Lane, right on HWY 550 going south and then a hard right back onto 203.

The Dead Elk is a 13 mile (21K) course that starts at Trimble Crossing and does a clockwise loop of the valley using HWY 550N, CR 250S, finishing on Trimble lane.

Results will be posted on the DWC website in a haphazard and frustratingly inconsistent manner.

Spencer

On Thursday March 5th two Durango Wheel Club members were run off CR 250 by a gravel truck. Fortunately, they were very experienced cyclists and no one was hurt but it was a very close call. They immediately called in a report to the Colorado State Partol by dialing *CSP and filed a report. This is the right thing to do!

If you are ever involved in an incident with an aggressive motorist, here is what to to:

1. Never yell obsenities or use obscene sign language! Wave your hand at the driver, motion for them to give you more room (blow them a kiss if you want) but NEVER use obscene language. Although Durango is a fairly safe place, do not let the situation escalate!

2. If the vehicle stops, DO NOT make contact with the driver. Stop at a safe distance, and call 911 if you feel threatened. If you don’t have a cell phone on you, make a motion as if you do and pretend to call.

3. Call the Colorado State Patrol *CSP (*277) to report the incident as soon as possible-either using a cell phone at the time, or calling when you get back home. It is important to get the license plate (not always easy to do.)

4. If you call via a cell phone when riding and if there is a trooper in the area, they will try to make contact with the vehicle.

5. If you call and there is no trooper in the area, the information will at least be entered into a vehicle road rage reported database.

6. THE DATABASE IS IMPORTANT. Even though the trooper may not be able to contact the vehicle, each time a call is made on a vehicle the information will be entered into the database. This information is available to all law enforcement officials while in the field as well as the courts should the offender appear in court. Law enforcement officials in the field use this information when determining whether they will write a citation for any offense. Courts use this information when considering the severity of fines and punishment for any traffic offense. When troopers stop a vehicle that has had many road rage calls over the last few months, their reaction to any situation is more severe.

7. Send me an email with a description of the incident. I am making my own database of reports and I will contact additional city, county and state officials.

All of this depends on you being able to call the Colorado State Patrol. It is highly recommended that you carry a cell phone with you when you go for a ride!

Ride Safe!

Spencer

durangowheelclub@gmail.com